With every breath you take, your lungs, heart, and respiratory system are all hard at work.
It all starts with your lungs. Each time you breathe in, your lungs take in oxygen and send it to your bloodstream and heart.
Then, your heart pumps blood that is full of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. This helps the cells in your body function properly and keep you healthy. In exchange for this oxygen, your cells release a waste called carbon dioxide.
Finally, your heart brings the carbon dioxide in your bloodstream back to your lungs, which you breathe out into the air.
This process happens every minute of the day, and it’s critical to your health.
Sometimes, this process doesn’t happen as it should. You might have trouble breathing for any number of reasons, ranging from asthma to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to lung cancer.
At South Shore Hospital, our respiratory care therapists are specially trained in preventing, identifying, and treating respiratory conditions to keep you and your lungs healthier for longer.
Experienced Doctors
Complete primary care services, from routine check-ups and preventive care at five affiliated neighborhood clinics and affiliated physicians.
Friendly Staff
Excellent and personable physicians, nurses, and professional staff. Transportation Services for seniors and disabled patients at affiliated clinics and the hospital.
South Shore Hospital Respiratory Tests
South Shore Hospital offers high-quality respiratory tests from the convenient and familiar location of the South Shore neighborhood. Below are some of our respiratory tests to help determine how well your lungs are functioning.
Blood Gases Test
An arterial blood gases test (ABG) is a simple blood test used to check how well your lungs are working, including how well they move oxygen into and take carbon dioxide out of the blood. It does this by measuring the acidity (or pH level) of your blood.
ABGs are used for many reasons, including concerns for:
- Lung failure
- Kidney failure
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Drug overdose
Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary functions tests (PFTs) check how well your lungs work. These tests measure information about your lungs, such as lung size, air flow, and how well gases like oxygen go in and out of your blood.
Using one or more pulmonary function test, your South Shore care team can:
- Determine how well your lungs are working
- Diagnose lung and airway problems
- Monitor conditions to see if they are staying stable or becoming worse
- See if treatments are working
If you have questions about South Shore respiratory care or tests, please call 773-356-5165 or 773-356-5165.
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